Begonia plant named ‘Nzcthree’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Begonia  cultivar named ‘Nzcthree’ is disclosed, characterized by its unique scarlet red flower color and unique foliage. The new cultivar is a  Begonia , typically suited for garden and ornamental container use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Begonia boliviensis.

Variety denomination: ‘Nzcthree’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, anunpatented, undistributed proprietary variety of Begonia boliviensisknown as ‘02/03 #1’ with the pollen parent, an unpatented proprietaryselection of Begonia boliviensis referred to as ‘Dwarf Boliviensis’directed by the inventor in February of 2007. The crossing was made inPalmerston North, New Zealand, at a commercial greenhouse.

‘Nzcthree’ was discovered by the inventor, Ed Morgan in December 2007 inPalmerston, New Zealand at a commercial greenhouse among seedlingsresulting from the February 2007 crossing.

After selection of the new cultivar, asexual reproduction of the newcultivar ‘Nzcthree’ was first performed in the same commercialgreenhouse by vegetative cuttings. ‘Nzcthree’ has since produced severalgenerations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Nzcthree’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Nzcthree’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Nzcthree’ as a new and distinct Begoniacultivar:

-   -   1. Unique scarlet colored blooms.    -   2. Distinctive flower shape.    -   3. Distinctive leaf shape and color.    -   4. Flattened leaf plane from the stem.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Nzcthree’ are similar to the female parent‘02/03#1’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘Nzcthree’differs in producing darker foliage and different colored flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Nzcthree’ are similar to the male parent‘Dwarf boliviensis’ in most horticultural characteristics. However,‘Nzcthree’ differs in producing a flower of a darker color.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Nzcthree’ are similar to the patentedcommercial variety ‘Bonfire’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,108 in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, ‘Nzcthree’ differs in producingplants with larger foliage of different coloration. Additionally, thenew variety produces flowers of a solid red color near RHS Red 41A,while ‘Bonfire’ produces flowers having a variety or orange tones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical flowers, stems and foliage of ‘Nzcthree’ grown in a greenhousein Palmerston North, New Zealand. This plant is approximately 3 yearsold, shown in a 10 liter pot. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Nzcthree’ plants grown in a greenhouse inPalmerston North, New Zealand. Temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C.at night to 12° C. to 25° C. during the day. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia boliviensis ‘Nzcthree’-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 3 years.-   Container size of the plant described: 10 liter commercial    container.

PROPAGATION

-   Typically reproduced by vegetative cuttings.-   Roots: Irregular-shaped tuber. Approximately average 6 cm long by 2    cm in diameter. Tuber colored near Yellow-Orange RHS 22D.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Semi-erect. Basal shoots arising vertically, becoming    pendulous.-   Mature height: Approximately 45 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 87 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Basal branching.-   Internode length: Average 3.5 cm.-   Stem diameter: Approximately 1.6 cm.-   Stem texture: Smooth.-   Stem length: Average 60 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate and opposite occurring leaves            occurring at 90 degree angle from stem.        -   Quantity.—Average between 9 to 15 per branch.        -   Average length.—2.0 cm.        -   Average width.—1.2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Curved, non-symmetrical lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Oblique.        -   Margin.—Double serrate.        -   Texture upper and lower surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Aspect.—Convex curve.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 144A. Young            foliage under side: RHS Green 144A, and Red 42A from            venation. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 144A. Mature            foliage under side: RHS Green 144C.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Green 144A. Venation color under side: RHS Red 42A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1 cm. Diameter: Approximately            0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Red 42A. Texture: Smooth.

FLOWER

-   Natural bloom season: Spring until Fall.-   Flower arrangement: Singly occurring.-   Flower longevity: Approximately 7 to 10 days on plant-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Orange-Red 34A.-   Flower size:    -   -   Length.—Average 4.1 cm.        -   Depth.—Average 1 cm.-   Tepals:    -   -   Quantity.—4 or 5.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Overlap at base for approx 10 mm then petals fan out            to form a bell shape with gradual out-curving of tips.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth.        -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Near RHS Red 41A. When            opening, lower surface: Near RHS Red 41A. Fully opened,            upper surface: Near RHS Red 41A. Fully opened, lower            surface: Near RHS Red 41A.-   Sepals: Not Present.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Angle.—About 45° to the lateral branch.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red 41A.-   Bracts:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Quantity.—2.        -   Shape.—About 70° to the lateral branch.        -   Aspect.—Concave.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red 41A, upper and lower surfaces.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Angle.—About 70° to the lateral branch.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red 41A.-   Stipules: Not observed to date.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—20 to 30.        -   Stamen length.—Approximately 0.25 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow 10B.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow 16C.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.        -   Pollen.—Not observed.-   Pistil: 3 present    -   -   Pistil color.—Near RHS red 41A.        -   Pistil length.—Approximately 1 cm.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds: Typical dust-like Begonia boliviensis seeds.-   Disease/pest resistance: Moderate resistance and susceptibility to    common diseases and pests of Begonia have been observed in the new    variety.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    4° C. to 38° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaboliviensis plant named ‘Nzcthree’ as herein illustrated and described.